Whisky galore by compton mackenzie and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Two bottles of whisky salvaged from the shipwreck that inspired the book whisky galore. The original ealing comedy of whisky galore is a pleasure and the 2016 remake surprisingly good, with a brilliant eddie izzard as waggett, played so, so well but for me the book is the best, while the films are simple sketches. While the ship waited for the salvage crew, the locals did not. This is a very droll twist on all the wartime austerities during wwii. Whisky galore by compton mackenzie and a great selection of related books. A ship laden with scotch whiskey bound for the us runs aground and everyone has a great time. The movie tells the story of a group of scottish islanders, on the isle of todday, that attempt to steal 50,000 cases of whiskey from a ship stranded offshore. Early on a wartime winters morning in 1941, an 8,000ton cargo ship loaded with whisky ran aground in the beautiful and treacherous seas of the outer hebrides. Whisky galore bottle one of the most well known events in the recent history of the western isles was the wreck of the ss politician on the 5th february 1941 and the story was used by compton mackenzie for his book whisky galore, and later for the ealing studio comedy by the same name.
He was educated at st pauls school and magdalen college, oxford where he obtained a degree in modern history. Glasgow auction website, scotch whisky auctions, will take bids for the bottles until 5 may. What do chariots of fire, gregorys girl, local hero, trainspotting and the angels share have in common. Relics and images can be seen at the am politician pub and restaurant on eriskay. The true story behind whisky galore new ed by roger hutchinson isbn.
The name of the real ship, that sunk feb 5 1941 during wwii was ss politician. This book is worth the read and repays the effort of doing so in spades. On two little scottish islands in world war two one catholic, one protestant whisky is running out. Much of the whisky was recovered by islanders from across the hebrides. When food is in short supply, it is bad enough, but when the whisky runs out, it looks like the end of the world. The various finds of whiskywhether found on land or raised from the wreckhave been placed at auction. The book includes a glossary of both the meaning and approximate pronunciation of the language. Information about whisky galore and the ss politician on the isle of south uist. Whisky galore purveyors of fine whisky in christchurch, new zealand. In 1947, compton mackenzie immortalised the events in his highly successful book, whisky galore. Originally released in great britain as whisky galore. Buy whiskey galore by compton mackenzie online at alibris. The incident inspired compton mackenzies book whisky galore and an ealing comedy of the same name. This event inspired the book and film whisky galore.
Whisky galore is a novel written by compton mackenzie, published in 1947. A separate brand of whisky has been released under the name ss politician, although this has no connection with the first brand or the whisky from the ship. Philip gouldings stage adaptation of compton mackenzies comedy classic is a tribute to the allfemale touring theatre companies of the postwar years. His father, edward compton, was an actor and theatre company manager. It is the most diverse and popular category of all whiskies, covering the broad range of styles and expressions from. Salvation arrives when a cargo ship with the telling name s. Taking place tomorrow 7 june, the sale is being conducted by. The story relates the looting of the wrecked ss politician off the isle of eriskay in 1941 with a cargo of 250,000 bottles of scotch whisky. And it is here that the wellknown story of the ss politician really begins. Now one very lucky buyer will have the chance to raise a glass to the real life events which inspired sir compton mackenzies 1947 book and. Bottle from reallife whisky galore ship for sale the scotsman. Whisky galore was inspired by the grounding of a ship carrying whisky. February 1941 and the story was used by compton mackenzie for his book whisky galore, and later for the ealing studio comedy by the same name.
Its 1943, and the war has brought rationing to the hebridean islands of great and little todday. Whisky galore audio cd july 22, 2010 by compton mackenzie author 4. Be the first to ask a question about whisky galore. Apr 27, 20 the incident inspired compton mackenzies book whisky galore and an ealing comedy of the same name.
The storybased on a true eventconcerns a shipwreck off a fictional scottish island. Glasgow auction website, scotch whisky auctions, will take bids for the bottles until 5. Cabinet minister is wrecked off a remote fictional scottish island group great todday and. As for whisky galore, considering hollywoods appetite for rediscovering past treasures, arent we due a remake. The ss politician, which was carrying more than 250,000 bottles of the spirit, got into difficulty off eriskay on 5 february. If youre looking for the perfect gift for the whisky lover in your life, below you will find our selection of whisky glasses, decanters, hip flasks and more. Jun 29, 2016 what do chariots of fire, gregorys girl, local hero, trainspotting and the angels share have in common. Compton mackenzie was from 19201923 tenant of herm and jethou and he shares many similarities to the central character in d. A bottle of whisky salvaged from the shipwreck that inspired the book and film whisky galore will be sold at auction tomorrow.
The back pastedown bears a long gash that has been repaired with tape. Scottish islanders try to plunder 50,000 cases of whisky from a stranded ship. Edward montague compton mackenzie you can see why he shortened it wrote whisky galore in 1946 as a tribute to the hebridian island of barra where he lived prior to moving to southeast england two years before. Its an obviously romantic tale, and one which inspired the 1947 book whisky galore by compton mackenzie, and the 1949 film of the same name, directed by alexander mackendrick and one of the most enduring and loved of the ealing comedies bizarrely retitled tight little island in the us. It was adapted for the cinema under the title whisky galore it followed on from an earlier 1943 novel keep the home guard turning in the same setting. Three and a half stars out of five a british world war ii comedy, thats based on the 1949 film of the same name. The sinking of the ss politician and whisky galore off.
In 1941 an 8000 ton cargo ship ran aground in the sound of eriskay in the outer hebrides. The wrecking of a ship carrying hundreds of bottles of whisky on a remote scottish island is the main plot idea for wg. There are also some funny satirical jabs at military incompetence, puritan hypocrisy, and overbearing parents. But perhaps the most iconic of all is whisky galore.
An exlibrary book and may have standard library stamps andor stickers. Its the remake or retelling of the 1949 ealing comedy classic, itself based on the novel of the same name by sir compton mackenzie. Having left liverpool two days earlier, heading for jamaica, it sank outside eriskay, the outer hebrides, scotland, in bad weather, containing 250,000 bottles of whisky. With basil radford, joan greenwood, catherine lacey, bruce seton. Our gift vouchers are also a great option to give to someone as they never expire and can be used online and in store. It was directed by gillies mackinnon and stars gregor fisher, eddie izzard, sean biggerstaff and naomi battrick.
The events which followed became the stuff of folklore, and resulted in the famous fiction of whisky galore. Lawrences his father, edward compton, was an actor and theatre company manager. Origins of the story edit the story was based on a reallife incident that occurred in 1941 on the hebridean island of eriskay 1 when the ss politician ran aground with. Ss politician was a cargo ship that ran aground off the coast of the hebridean island of eriskay in 1941. The book seems to have the potential to be amusing, and sometimes manages this. Instead, i felt there was a bigger story beyond the book itself with various avenues of discussion. The story of the wreck and looting was the basis for the book whisky galore. Nov 04, 2004 the original ealing comedy of whisky galore is a pleasure and the 2016 remake surprisingly good, with a brilliant eddie izzard as waggett, played so, so well but for me the book is the best, while the films are simple sketches. The film premiered at the 2016 edinburgh film festival and went on general release in scotland from 5 may 2017 and the rest of the uk, ireland and the us from 19 may 2017. Whisky galore belongs to that genre of writing about the country wherein officious citytypes are constantly being wrongfooted by the wily locals, so there are plenty of laughs at the expense of the uptight authority figures. Barries plays, including peter pan, or the boy who wouldnt grow up.
Hardback with dark pink cloth and gold title to spine. Nov 29, 2012 whisky galore was inspired by the grounding of a ship carrying whisky. If youve enjoyed this and would like to more fiction about the past hebrides, try island of wings by karin altenberg. Whisky galore, by compton mackenzie, first edition, published in 1947 by chatto and windus. Scotch single malt is the ultimate whisky experience.
The community work to hide the discovery from the british authorities, all while planning two weddings for the daughters of the local shopkeeper gregor fisher. Despite searching many crofts, the whisky proved far too well hidden and very little was ever recovered. Amused by what he saw going on around him seeing it as a parable about the little man facing down big government in 1946, he put pen to paper, writing whisky galore. All of this and more make this book a delightful read, once you manage to follow who the characters are and their names. Whisky galore bottles for sale the drinks business.
I particularly enjoyed this edition of whisky galore because the novel. Eriskay pupils find whisky galore sculpture bbc news. May 22, 2017 fancy going to see the new whisky galore. The ss politician was an 8000tonne cargo ship which left liverpool on the 3rd february. Changing the name of the ship to the ss cabinet minister,and the names of barra and eriskay to great todday and little todday, the book, published in 1947, became an instant. Its 1943 and the war has brought rationing to the hebridean islands of great and little todday.
Whisky galore and the ss politician isle of south uist. One of the most well known events in the recent history of the western isles was the wreck of the ss politician on the 5th february 1941 and the story was used by compton mackenzie for his book whisky galore, and later for the ealing studio comedy by the same name. The pages of this book are clean, crisp and unmarked. The front pastedown bears the name of the prior owner and the remnants of a label. Two years later, the well known film of the same name was released, taking the story to a worldwide audience. Immortalised in the book whisky galore by compton mackenzie, and then in the ealing comedy of the same name, the story was not about what happened to the boat, but what became of the cargo. Jun 06, 2017 two bottles of whisky salvaged from the shipwreck that inspired the book whisky galore. Cabinet minister runs aground and must abandon its cargo of 50,000 cases of whiskey. Providentially, a supply ship runs aground nearby containing thousands of cases of the said product.
Her cargo included 22,000 cases of malt whisky and. This is a collectible 2000s bottling of the ss politician blend, a name taken from the ship which crashed near the island of eriskay in 1941 and had its cargo of whisky halfinched. Galore by compton mackenzie, and the 1949 film of the same name. In the usa, the original movie was called tight little island as movie titles werent allowed to mention alcohol in their names, apparently. The locals, naturally, take advantage of the availability of the ships cargo. A blended whisky, ss politician, containing a small amount of the whisky they had raised was produced, but did not sell well and the company went into liquidation. If youve enjoyed this and would like to more fiction about the past.
It was the directorial debut of alexander mackendrick. This event, however, never overshadows the human element of the story that is mackenzieis gift for bringing people to life in a humorous and realistic way. Origins of the story edit the story was based on a reallife incident that occurred in 1941 on the hebridean island of eriskay 1 when the ss politician ran aground with a cargo including 28,000 cases of malt whisky. Reaching out to the my name is whisky team, i sat down with davide terziotti to discuss the concept and the themes raised.
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